Pipe spinning device



Feb. 25, 1964 J. H. WILSON ETAL PIPE SPINNING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1960 ARTHUR PBUZZINZ Jae 1 H9157? 1m 5011/ INVENTORS,

THEIH H GE Feb. 25, 1964 J. H. WILSON ETAL PIPE SPINNING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1960 ARTHURPBUZZINI IN V EN TORS E THE/1P BETA 7' Feb. 25, 1964 Filed May 5, 1960 J. H. WILSON ETAL PIPE SPINNING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 699750? FBUZZW JNVENTUES'.

United States Pater 3,122,211 PIPE SPINNENG DEVlQE John Hart Wilson, VJilson Mfg. (10., R0. Box 1031,

Wichita Ftdls, Tex., and Arthur P. Buzzini, 118 E. Petroleum Center, San Antonio, Tex.

Filed May 5, 1960, Ser. No. 27,179 4 Claims. (Cl. 173-164) This invention relates to improvements in pipe spinning devices, and more particularly to spinning devices which rotate a drill stem to initially screw the tool joints of the drill stern together as the drill stem is being run into the well during the process of the drilling thereof.

Various methods have been employed heretofore for initially turning drill stem to cause interengagement of the threads of the tool joints thereof preparatory to the final tightening operation.

The present device enables the ready turning of the drill stem very rapidly until the threads of the interengaging elements of the tool joints are tightened to a predetermined degree, thereby eliminating the use of a cat line or spinning chain, and the dangers incident to the use thereof, for the initial tightening of the interengaging screw elements of tool joints.

It has been the usual practice heretofore to use a cat line, spinning rope or chain to cause the initial engagement of the complementary threaded portions of a tool joint. However, if a portion of the body of the operator became entangled in the spinning line or chain, or if the line or chain was broken, serious injury to the working personnel and/ or damage to the equipment could result. It is to avoid this hazard that the present invention has been designed.

An object of this invention is to provide a selfcontained device for spinning drill stem or other pipe through at least the greater portion of the int-erengagement of the screw threads thereof preparatory to the final tightening thereof, if the pipe is being screw threaded together. However, the device can be driven in either direction, that is, both to screw pipe together or to unscrew the screw threaded connections on pipe, either hanging in a vertical position, such as drill stem, or in a horizontal position, such as on pipe used to make up a pipe line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and relatively compact device for selectively spinning pipe in a selected direction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device which, when used on pipe suspended in a vertical position, may be suspended within a derrick or mast and balanced by springs, counterweights or the like, so it may be readily swung into and out of position by a single operator, to enable the insertion thereof around or the removal from drill stem or other pipe being run into or removed from a well.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid actuated pipe spinning device, wherein a fluid cylinder is utilized to urge frictional pipe engaging rollers of the device into engagement with the periphery of the drill stem, pipe or the like with a sufilcient degree of tightness to enable a fluid actuated motor to spin the pipe.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple and rugged in construction, which is easy to assemble and to disassemble, which is low in the cost of manufacture and operation, and which is easy to operate.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a device for spinning pipe, wherein a bypass valve can be set to by-pass hydraulic fluid at a predetermined pressure so the hydraulic motor will stall at a predetermined torque to obviate wear on the friction roller elements.

A final object of the invention is to provide a device ice for spinning pipe, which device has the friction roller elements thereof on each roller shaft spaced apart and being exterior of the frame of the device to give greater stability in the operation thereof, and to allow accessibility to the friction roller elements to enable removal and replacement thereof.

With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the device, with parts broken away, and with an alternate position of the movable arm and the friction roller pipe engaging elements being shown in dashed outline;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional View taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, with parts being broken away and parts being shortened to better show the details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but having the top cover portion of the housing broken away to show the details of the interior construction, and showing a pipe in dashed outline positioned between the friction roller elements.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 4-4- of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

FIG. 5 is an elevational and diagrammatic view of the fiuid systems for actuating the device, and showing a portion of a drive member connected thereto, with parts being broken away and with parts shown in section to bring out the details of construction.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally the hollow, elongated frame of the device which encloses sprockets, chains and gears therein, for performing the desired operation of the device, as will be brought out in detail hereinafter.

One end of the hollow, elongated frame 1 has an arm 2 extending outward therefrom, on the distal end of which arm is an eye 4, and to which a back-up cable 6 is attached.

The frame 1 has a tubular member 8 along a side thereof to make for ease in handling, and to provide a guard therefor. A loop or eye 10 is secured to the upper face of frame 1, intermediate the length of the frame at approximately the center of gravity thereof, so when the frame 1 is suspended by a rope or cable, as indicated at 12, it will hang in a substantially horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 2. With the device thus arranged and with the cable 12 extending upward in the derrick or mast to a suitable pulley or lever and is counterweighted in a manner well known in the art of handling tongs and the like, the device may be applied to or removed from the drill stem 14 by a workman, with a minimum of effort.

A turn-buckle =16 is positioned intermediate the cable 12 and a portion of the frame 1 so as to enable the correct adjustment of the frame 1 with respect to the horizontal. The frame 1 is preferably of fabricated or cast construction, having a top plate 18 and a bottom plate 29, with reinforcing members, such as partitions 22 and 24, being secured thereto throughout the length thereof. Cover members '26 are positioned, one on each side of the hollow frame 1, so as to form a substantially oil tight gear housing 27 to enclose gears 34, 3S and 42. The bearings mounting the shafts on which the gears are positioned are lubricated by lubricant contained within the gear housing 27.

It is preferable to have a hydraulic fluid actuated motor 28 mounted on the top plate 18 of housing 27 so the shaft 36 of the motor extends into the housing and has a spur gear 32 fitted thereon and keyed thereto. The

spur gear 32 is in meshed engagement with a spur gear 34 which is mounted on shaft 36 within housing 27, which spur gear 34 is fixedly secured to shaft 36 and preferably has gear teeth 38 cut therein. The shaft 36 is mounted on bearings 40, one of which bearings is fitted on each end of said shaft, and which bearings are lubricated by lubricant within gear housing 27.

A shaft 42 is journaled on bearings 44 mounted in housing 27, which shaft 42 has one end thereof extending out through a side of the housing 27. A spur gear 46 is mounted on and secured to shaft 42 within housing 27. The spur gear 46 is adapted to mesh with spur gear teeth 38 in shaft 36. A sprocket 48 is mounted on shaft 42 and is fixedly secured thereto exteriorly of housing 27, which sprocket 48 is surrounded by a chain 50. The chain 50 also surrounds sprocket 52, which sprocket 52 is fixedly secured to shaft 54. The shaft 54 is journaled inbearings 56 mounted within hollow frame 1. The shaft 54 has a double sprocket 58 and 69 fixedly secured thereto, around which sprockets the respective chains 6-2 and 64 are positioned. The chain 62, in turn, drives sprocket 66 of a further double sprocket 66 and 70 which further double sprocket is mounted on and fixedly secured to shaft '68. A chain 72 surrounds the sprocket 7t} and the sprocket 74 which is mounted on shaft 76. The shafts 68 and 76 are journaled on bearings within hollow frame 1 and have their ends extending outward therefrom, and on which shafts the respective cone-shaped hubs 78 are mounted. One of the hubs 78 is secured to each end of each of the shafts 68, 76, and 92 exterior of frame 1, which hub-s are retained against outward movement by screw threaded nut 67 and are secured against rotary movement with respect to the respective shafts by the respective keys 77, one of which is fitted in each end of the respective shafts, as will best be seen in FTGS. 2 and 4. Each of the cone-shaped hubs has a key, such as 'a crescent key 80, fitted therein, each of which keys is adapted to complementally engage the respective annular rings 82 each of which rings has a complementary conical face to comple-mentally engage the respective hubs 78.

An annular wedge member 84 is fitted within each ring 82, and each annular wedge member 84 is adapted to complementally engage a tapered surface within the respective annular metal rings 82 to hold the annular metal rings in fixed relation with respect to conical hubs 78 exterior of frame 1. This particular arrangement enables ready removal of the annular metal rings 82, on each of which rings 82 an elastomer friction roller element 86 is bonded. The removal of bolts 88 makes possible the ready removal of the respective rings 82 from the respective hubs. The elastomer friction roller elements are concentric and coaxial with the respective shafts on which they are mounted. Therefore, when the chain 72 drives shaft 76' through sprocket 74, the friction roller elements 86, one on each end of shaft 76, are rotated in unison in the same direction. By having the friction roller elements 86 positioned on each outer end of each of the shafts 68, 76-, and 92 these friction roller elements 86 will be exterior of the frame which enables ready removal of the roller elements and the ready replacement thereof, friction roller elements will be spaced apart on the respective shafts to give stability to the device while it is in operation on drill pipe and the like. Furthermore, the friction roller elements 86 which are mounted on shaft 68 are also rotated in the same direction as the friction roller elements on shaft 76. A guard G, as indicated in dot-dash outline in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, encloses the greater portion of the friction .rol-ler elements 86 to serve as a safety guard for -workmen-, the open portion of said guard is sufficiently large for a portion of the friction roller elements 86 to project therethrough to engage the drill stem to enable the a use of the device on pipe.

The chain 64 drives a sprocket 90 which is mounted on and secured to shaft 92, which shaft is journaled near the outer end of swingable arm 94. The arm 94 is mounted on frame 1, and is in position to pivotally swing about the axis of shaft 54. An outstanding lever 96 is secured to arm 94 and is apertured near t e outer end thereof to receive a pin 98 therethrough. A bracket 180 is mounted on and scured to outstanding arm 2 and is apertured near its outer end. A pneumatic cylinder 104-, which has a pair of apertured lugs 1166 thereon, is mounted on bracket 100, so that the pivot pin 102 will pass through the apertures within the lugs 106 and the aperture within bracket when these apertures are in register. The pneumatic cylinder 104 has a rod 168 extending outward therefrom with a clevis 11% mounted on the outer end thereof, which clevis is apertured for passage of the pin 98 therethrough and through the aperture in lever 96.

The fluid cylinder 104 is preferably of the double acting type and has the respective fluid lines 112 and 114 connected thereto at opposite ends thereof so as to enable the introduction of fluid selectively into the fluid cylinder to move rod 168 in the desired direction to actuate lever 96 and arm 94, as indicated in full and in dashed outline in FIG. 1. A control valve, shown in dashed outline, preferably a four-way valve, 116 is provided within fluid lines 111, 112 and 114. Fluid line 111 is the supply line to direct pneumatic fluid to valve 116 and the lines 112 and 114 are connected to the valve 116 to directpneumatic fluid to and from pneumatic cylinder 164 to actuate arm 94 in the desired direction to move friction roller elements 36 into or out of engagement with pipe or drill stem 14 as it is being rotated or spun at the desired speed. The valve 116 is preferably of the slide plunger type with an exhaust port at each end thereof, which will exhaust the pneumatic fluid therefrom. V

The fluid motor 28 has the respective conduits and 132 connected thereto and to the hydraulic pumping system so the motor may be operatively controlled in a manner which will be brought out in detail hereinafter. The hydraulic pumping system, designated generally by the numeral 134, has a pump 136 connected in driving relation with the prime mover shaft, such as a drive shaft 138, by drive pulley 140 which is mounted on shaft 138. The belts 144 pass around pulley 149 and pulley 142 to drive the clutch 146 in a manner well understood in the art of clutches. The clutch 146 preferably is of the air actuated type, so upon air being directed through conduit 148 by operation of valve 159, which valve is usually located at the driliers position, the air will cause clutch 146, which is mounted on pump 136, to become engaged, which will cause the pump 136 to rotate, which in turn will direct hydraulic fluid through conduit 132 into fluid motor 28 to rotate the motor in one direction, which hydraulic fluid will be exhausted, through conduit 130, into hydraulic fluid reservoir 152.

When it is desired to run the motor in the opposite direction, the conduits or hose 130 and 132 are removed from the motor 28 and interchanged, whereupon, the direction of rotation of the motor will be reversed, from the direction as above mentioned, which will obviate the necessity of using a four-way reversing valve and the cost incident thereto. This arrangement also makes the operation of the spinning device free of operational hazards, by the accidental reversing of the motor. When it is desired to use the device to screw or spin up pipe, all the operation is in one direction, and when it is dc sired to use the device for unscrewing operation, which operation is rare, all the turning will be in one direction, until the above mentioned hose on motor 28 is interchanged.

It is preferable to have the drive pulley 140 approximately twice the diameter of the pulley 142 which is mounted on clutch 146, so that the pump 136 will be driven sufliciently fast while the engine is idling to perform the spinning operation.

The hydraulic fluid by-pass line 154 is provided intermediate hydraulic pump 136 and the reservoir 152 through which to by-pass excess fluid back into reservoir 152. A V

further by-pass line 156 is provided between the pump discharge line 132 and the reservoir 152, and has a hydraulic relief valve 157 therein so that the pressure in pump discharge line 132 leading to motor 28 will not exceed a predetermined pressure, therefore the torque of hydraulic motor 28 may be accurately controlled by regulating the setting of relief valve 157.

When the drive shaft 138, which is connected in driving relation through clutch 139 to a suitable source of power such as an internal combustion engine, is rotated at a speed greater than the normal idling speed of the engine, it is desirable to release the clutch 146 from driving relation with pump 136, as a speed above engine idling speed causes undue Wear on the pump. Whereupon, a pneumatic conduit line 160 is connected to air supply line 111, which line 169 has a normally closed, three-way, variable pressure valve 162 therein. A graduated pressure may be applied to throttle control cylinder 166 by depressing valve 162 the desired degree, thereby enabling minute control of acceleration by the use thereof. The conduit 16% has a branch 164 leading therefrom to a pneumatic cylinder 166, which cylinder has a connecting rod 168 attached to a linkage mechanism 17%) to actuate a throttle rod 172 of an internal combustion engine or the like, A spring 174 is interconnected between linkage 17 0 and the lug 176 on cylinder 166 to return the connecting rod 168 to a normally retracted position. \Vhen air pressure is released from cylinder 166. The air will exhaust out through a release port 163 in three-way valve 162.

A second branch conduit leads to a diaphragm chamber 180 of the three-way, normally open, diaphragm actuated valve 182, which valve has an exhaust port 184 in the lower end thereof to exhaust air from clutch 146 upon the closing of normally open valve 182.

The valves 159 and 162 are provided with the respective springs 151 and 165 so as to normally urge the operating plunger upward to maintain these valves in normally closed position. The valve 150 is also a three-way valve and has an exhaust port 153 to exhaust air from conduit 148 and from clutch 146 when manual pressure on the plunger valve 150 is released.

Operation The pipe Spinning device is suspended within the derrick (not shown) by means of cable 12, and is so counter- Weighted as to be raised or lowered to the correct working height, and is positioned approximately horizontally. A workman moves the frame 1 by grasping tubular memher 8, and with the arm 94 moved into the position as indicated in dashed outline in FIG. 1, the friction roller elements 86 are positioned around pipe 14, whereupon, by manipulation of valve 116, the arm 94 is moved from the position as indicated in dashed outline in PEG. 1, to the full outline position indicated therein, by the movement of rod 108 within fluid cylinder 104, thereby sufficient pressure is exerted by the pneumatic cylinder 164 to hold the friction roller elements in frictional contact with the periphery of pipe 14. Upon contact of the pipe 14 by friction roller elements 86, the valve 150 is manipulated to engage the air clutch 146 on the hydraulic pump 136 and direct hydraulic fluid, under pressure, through the fluid motor 28, whereupon, the fluid motor 28 will drive through gear train 32, 34, 38, and 46, to drive shaft 42 on which sprocket 48 is secured. The torque of motor 28 will further be directed through chain 50 to sprocket 52 to turn shaft 54. The sprockets 58 and 60, which are fixedly secured to the shaft 54, will drive through chains 62 and 64 to turn sprockets 66 and 90 which are keyed to the respective shafts 68 and 92. Each of the shafts 68 and 92 have a friction roller element 86 fixedly secured to each end thereof exteriorly of the frame 1. A chain 72 surrounds sprocket 7 0, which sprocket is fixedly secured to shaft 68, the chain 72 also surrounds sprocket 74 on shaft 76, so upon turning of sprocket 70, the shaft 76 will be rotated to drive the friction roller elements 86, one of which is secured to each end of the respective shafts, so as to rotate the respective shafts in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, if the device is being used to screw pipe, drill stem or the like together.

The amount of torque which can be exerted on pipe 14 by friction roller elements 86 is in proportion to the coeflicient of friction exerted between the roller elements 86 and pipe 14, and to the amount of torque genera-ted by motor 28, at the pressure to which the relief valve 157 is set to by-pass the fluid pressure from line 132. The motor 28 is preferably a hydraulic motor which is operated under medium high pressure, however, the amount of force exerted by the pneumatic cylinder 104 determines the pressure of the friction roller elements 86 upon pipe 14. Therefore, the amount of torque exerted on pipe or drill stem 14 is dependent upon these factors, as Well as on the coefficient of friction between the elastomer faced friction roller elements 86 and the periphery of pipe or drill stem 14. As torque is being exerted by the device on pipe or drill stem 14, a pull is exerted on a back-up cable 6 which is attached to eye 4 on arm 2. The cable 6 extends outward at right angles to the arm 2 in the desired direction, so as to counteract the reactionary force developed by fluid motor 28, and while the cable 6 is shown to be extended in one direction, it is to be understood that this cable can be extended in either direction, as desired. While a housing 51, which normally covers chains 50 and sprockets 48 and 52, is not shown, the dashed outline in FIG. 2 shows the normal position thereof, and it is to be understood that this housing is normally in place while the tool is being operated.

While the valve 116 has been shown diagrammatically in the drawing, this valve is normally located within the confines of tubular member 8, as indicated in dashed out line in FIG. 1, so as to enable the operator to use valve 116 without removing his hands from the tool.

The present device finds ready adaptation for use in connection with drilling rigs, and is suspended from the derrick or mast thereof in vertical position to enable the rapid rotation of pipe, drill stem or the like for the screw ing of the tool joints together up to the final stage, at which stage a high torque tightening device is utilized for the final tightening of the tool joint.

It is to be pointed out that the spinning operation takes place while the engine is idling and the drive sprocket 138 is turning at a relatively low speed, therefore, it is preferable to have the pulley 149 on shaft 138 sufliciently large to drive through belts 144 to drive pulley 142 at the correct operating speed to operate the pump 136. Therefore with the engine idling at the desired speed, the plunger of valve 15% is depressed, whereupon air will be directed from supply line 111 through valve 156 into conduit 148 and through normally open valve 182 into air actuated clutch 146 to drive the pump, which directs hydraulic fluid through pipe 132 to motor 28 to cause the spinning of friction roller elements 86, as hereinbefore brought out. This spinning continues until the desired operation is finished. However, when it is desired to accelerate the engine, the plunger of air valve 162 is depressed, which will direct air through conduit 169 into branch conduit 164 and into branch conduit 178. The air pressure on diaphragm within diaphragm chamber 180 will close valve 182 which will prevent air passing from conduit 148 into clutch 146, simultaneously with the closing of valve 182 the air from clutch 146 will be exhausted, which will cause the clutch to release the driving relation from pump 136, however, the pulley 142 will continue to rotate. Simultaneously with the closing of valve 182, the plunger within air actuated cylinder 166 will move rod 168 outward to actuate linkage 170' and throttle control rod 172 to accelerate the engine. In this manner the pump 136 is protected at all times against being operated at excessively high speed.

While the device has been described for use primarily in rotating pipe and drill stem, such as used in connection with drilling a well or the like, where the pipe is suspended vertically, it is to be understood that the device is equally adaptable for use in rotating pipe disposed in a general horizontal plane, or in other planes.

Modified Method of Operation While the description and operation as set out above bring out the use of the tool by itself, it is to be understood that the tool may also be used in conjunction with rotary tongs, such as used on drill stem for screwing lengths of drill stem together, as the drill stem is being run into the well, or the present device may be used in conjunction with pipe tongs for screwing pipe together.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drill stem, as it is being run into the well, is held against turning movement by a backup tong designated generally at 201, which tong is suspended in the usual manner, as by a cable 2&2 so the tong may be held at the desired level, as by counterweights.

.A back-up cable 204 is attached to the end of the handle of tong 201 in the usual manner when the rotary tongs are being used for drill stem, or pipe tongs are used on pipe. The tong 201 employs tong die inserts, such as used in tongs manufactured by Web Wilson, Byron Jackson, and others, and since tongs of this type are in general use, it is not deemed necessary to give a detailed description of the construction or an explanation of the operation thereof. With the back-up tong 201 in the position as indicated in FIG. 5, and locked in this position around dril-l stem 14, and with the box B of the tool joint positioned therein, and with the pin portion P of the tool joint lowered into the box ready to be threadably engaged therewith, the lead or pull tong, designated generally at 206, is suspended by cable 12a, and is moved laterally into engagement with the pin portion P of drill stem 14, and the latches which are provided on the tong are closed. This will enable the tong 201 to engage the drill stem when moved into one direction. When the handle 299 of the tong 206 is moved in the opposite direction, the tong dies within the tong 206 will release, due to the toggle joint construction of the tong, and the tong will be loosened when the handle 269 is moved in one direction. A pull line, such as a cable 210 is attached to the outer looped end of handle 269', which cable or pull line 210 is attached to a pull device, such as a cathead, whereupon, by pulling the cable 210, drill stem 14 may be rotated. However, the spin up device, designated gen erally at S, is suspended by cable 208 with the tong 206 suspended therebelow by means of support 12a, so that the open throat of the spin up device S will be in register with the open throat of lead tong 206. In this manner both the lead tong and the spin up device S may be simultaneously fitted on the drill stem 14 by lateral movement thereof.

In using the spin up device S in conjunction with tong 2%, the cable 6-is connected to cable 210; so as to form a backup for the spin up device S While the friction roller elements 86 are performing the initial spinning or screwing action between the pin P and box B. However, the resiliency of cable 210, between the anchor point of cable 6 and the tong handle 269, permits sufiicient loosening of the tong around the drill stem 14 to permit the drill stem to turn freely within the dies in tong 266, however, upon threaded pin P of the drill stem 14 being screwed into box B to the desired predetermined tightness, the hydraulic motor 28 will become stalled at a predetermined torque. Pull can then be exerted on cable 210 to act on handle 20 of tong 296, which will move handle 26? and spin up device S through an arc in unison, which will swing the tong 2&6 and spin up device S about the axis of the drill stem 14. Upon initial movement of handle 2%, the tong dies in tong 206 will engage the drill stem to perform the final tightening of the screw threaded elements of the pin and box by the cathead or other pull exerting element, thereby enabling the initial spinning up of the drill stem 14 and the final tightening operation by the tong 205 to take place in uninterrupted sequence.

While the device has been described in some particularity with respect to screwing tool joints of drill stem together and for screwing pipe into threaded engagement, it is also to be pointed out that the spin up device S may be used for whatever application it is adapted, for instance, in the drilling of so-called rat holes and mouse holes as used in rotary drilling, the spin up device S, used singly or in conjunction with the lead tong 266, may be applied, and may be used to drill such holes in either soft or hard formation merely by attaching a drill bit to the lower end of the drill stem 14 or other suitable pipe.

The device may also be used for boring horizontal bore :holes, such as boring holes beneath pavement, under buildings or the like, by supporting the drill stem or pipe having a drill bit thereon in horizontal position and rotating the drill stem or pipe by the use of the spin up device individually or in combination with tong 206.

Whle the invention has been illustrated and described in some detail in one embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that changes may be made in the minor details of construction and adaptations made to different installations without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, What 'is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe spinning device for performing low and high torque operations on a pipe, comprising in combination a pipe holding tong element adapted to hold a length of pipe against rotation, a plurality of spaced apart, circumferentially arranged, elastomer faced rotating elements comprising a low torque pipe rotating element adapted to be attachably connected to a length of pipe, which last mentioned pipe is adapted to engage said pipe which is held in said pipe holding tong element, a high torque, arcuately movable pipe tong element adapted to be attachably connected to said length of pipe positioned in said :low torque pipe rotating element, said high torque, arouately movable pipe tong element being yieldably con nected to said low torque pipe rotating element by a cable so said pipe rotating elements will be operable about a common axis, means selectively anchoring said low torque and said high torque pipe rotating tong elements against arcuate movement about the axis of said pipe being rotated, hydraulic cylinder means of energizing said low torque pipe rotating element to cause engagement of said elastomer faced rollers thereof with said pipe to be rotated, and hydraulic motor means of energizing said elastomer faced rollers of said low torque pipe rotating element to rotate said length of pipe within said device within a predetermined torque range, and means to selectively move said low torque pipe rotating element and said high torque pipe arcuately movable tong element about the axis of the pipe being rotated to cause gripping engagement of said high torque, arcuately movable tong element with said pipe to enable high torque to be applied thereto. 1

2. A device for rotating cylindrical pipe having a boring tool thereon for performing an earth boring operation, comprising a hollow body, gearing within said frame, a pair of spaced apart, parallel shafts journaled in said frame near an end thereof, an elastomer faced, annular friction roller element mounted on each end of each shaft exterior of said frame, transmission means connected in driving relation with said gearing in said hollow frame to simultaneously drive said friction roller elements in the same direction, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame intermediate the length thereof, a further shaft journaled in said arm near the outer end thereof and passing transversely therethrough and being in parallel relation to the axes of said first mentioned shafts, and which shaft is adapted to swing into adjacent complementary relation with said first mentioned shafts, a

friction roller element mounted on and secured to each end of said further shaft exterior of said frame, transmission means connecting said further shaft in driving relation with said gearirn in said hollow frame to rotate said shaft simultaneously with said first mentioned shafts and in the sarne direction, a fluid powered cylinder connected to said arm to swing said arm and said shaft about the axis of the pivot of said arm, power means connected in driving relation with said gearing to rotate said shafts carrying said friction roller elements, and reactionary anchor means on said frame to resist rotation of said hollow frame about the axis of said pipe when said power means is connected in driving relation with said shaft to turn said friction roller elements.

3. A pipe spinning device for rotating pipe comprising, an elongated frame, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame, a friction roller shaft rotatably mounted on said arm near the outer end thereof, a unitary friction roller element attachably secured to each end of said shaft, which roller elements are longitudinally spaced apart and being exterior of said arm, two other friction roller shafts rotatably mounted on said frame, the axes of which shafts re spaced apart with the axes thereof being parallel to the axis of said first mentioned friction roller shaft, the axes of said friction roller shafts being parallel to the axis of said pivotally mounted arm, unitary friction roller elements attachabiy secured to each end of each said last mentioned friction roller shaft with the respective friction roller elements on each shaft being spaced apart longitudinaily and being exterior of said elongated frame, power means mounted on said elongated frame, gearing means mounted within said frame and connecting said power means in geared, driving relation with each said friction roller shaft to drive said shafts and said friction roller elements thereon simultaneously in the same direction, and fluid cylinder actuated means mounted on said elongated frame intermediate said pivoted arm and said elongated frame and being connected to said arm to selectively move said arm carrying one of said friction roller shafts and the friction roller elements thereon With respect to said friction roller elements mounted on said shafts on said frame, so as to grip a pipe between said friction roller elements to rotate said pipe by fiictional contact when said friction roller elements on said arm are in one position.

A A ipe spinning device for rotating pipe, which device comprises; an elongated frame, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame, a friction roller shaft rotatably mounted on said arm near the outer end thereof, a unitary friction roller element attachably secured to each end of said shaft, which roller elements are longitudinally spaced apart and being exterior of said arm, two other friction roller shafts rotatably mounted on said frame, the axes of which shafts are spaced apart with the axes thereof being parallel to the axis of said first mentioned friction roller shaft, the axes of said friction roller shafts being parallel to the axis of said pivotally mounted arm, unitary friction roller elements att achably secured to each end of each said last mentioned friction roller shaft with the respective friction roller elements on each shaft being spaced apart longitudinally and being exterior of said elongated frame, a hydraulic motor mounted on said elongated frame, gearing means mounted within said frame and connecting said hydraulic motor in geared, driving relation with each said friction roller shaft to drive said shafts and said friction roller elements thereon simultaneously in the same direction, fluid cylinder actuated means mounted on said elongated frame intermediate said pivoted arm and said elongated frame and being connected to said arm to selectively move said arm carrying one of said friction roll-er shafts and the friction roller elements thereon with respect to said friction roller elements mounted on said shafts on said frame, so as to grip a pipe between said riction roller elements to rotate said pipe by frictional contact when said friction roller elements on said arm are in one position, a hydraulic pump connected in fluid communication with said hydraulic motor, a prime mover, air actuated clutch means, said air actuated clutch means being connected in driven relation with said prime mover, said hydraulic pump being selectively connected in driven relation with said air ac tuated clutch means, a source of air under pressure, a conduit connected to said air actuated clutch means and to said source of air under pressure, a manually operated valve within said conduit which leads from said source of under pressure to said air actuated clutch, a further valve in said conduit leadin from said source of air unde pressure to said air actuated clutch, an air actuated throttle valve connected to said source of air under pressure, an ir actuated throttle means, air actuated means to actuate said further valve in said air supply conduit which leads to said clutch, and conduit means interconnecting the outlet of said throttle valve with said air actuated throttle means and to said air actuated means to actuate said further valve, so upon opening said throttle actuating valve said air actuated means connected to said further valve will close said conduit leading from said air supply to said air actuated clutch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A PIPE SPINNING DEVICE FOR PERFORMING LOW AND HIGH TORQUE OPERATIONS ON A PIPE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A PIPE HOLDING TONG ELEMENT ADAPTED TO HOLD A LENGTH OF PIPE AGAINST ROTATION, A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART, CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ARRANGED, ELASTOMER FACED ROTATING ELEMENTS COMPRISING A LOW TORQUE PIPE ROTATING ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHABLY CONNECTED TO A LENGTH OF PIPE, WHICH LAST MENTIONED PIPE IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID PIPE WHICH IS HELD IN SAID PIPE HOLDING TONG ELEMENT, A HIGH TORQUE, ARCUATELY MOVABLE PIPE TONG ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHABLY CONNECTED TO SAID LENGTH OF PIPE POSITIONED IN SAID LOW TORQUE PIPE ROTATING ELEMENT, SAID HIGH TORQUE, ARCUATELY MOVABLE PIPE TONG ELEMENT BEING YIELDABLY CONNECTED TO SAID LOW TORQUE PIPE ROTATING ELEMENT BY A CABLE SO SAID PIPE ROTATING ELEMENTS WILL BE OPERABLE ABOUT A COMMON AXIS, MEANS SELECTIVELY ANCHORING SAID LOW TORQUE AND SAID HIGH TORQUE PIPE ROTATING TONG ELEMENTS AGAINST ARCUATE MOVEMENT ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID PIPE BEING ROTATED, HYDRAULIC CYLINDER MEANS OF ENERGIZING SAID LOW TORQUE PIPE ROTATING ELEMENT TO CAUSE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ELASTOMER FACED ROLLERS THEREOF WITH SAID PIPE TO BE ROTATED, AND HYDRAULIC MOTOR MEANS OF ENERGIZING SAID ELASTOMER FACED ROLLERS OF SAID LOW TORQUE PIPE ROTATING ELEMENT TO ROTATE SAID LENGTH OF PIPE WITHIN SAID DEVICE WITHIN A PREDETERMINED TORQUE RANGE, AND MEANS TO SELECTIVELY MOVE SAID LOW TORQUE PIPE ROTATING ELEMENT AND SAID HIGH TORQUE PIPE ARCUATELY MOVABLE TONG ELEMENT ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE PIPE BEING ROTATED TO CAUSE GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID HIGH TORQUE, ARCUATELY MOVABLE TONG ELEMENT WITH SAID PIPE TO ENABLE HIGH TORQUE TO BE APPLIED THERETO. 